other tribe of natives--Amicable intercourse with
them--Morrisset's chain of Ponds--Again reach the Darling River ninety
miles higher up than where we first struck upon it.

We kept near the river as we journeyed homewards, and in striking
across a plain, found an isolated rock of quartz and jasper, just
showing itself partially above the surface of the ground.

We were anxious to get to the small plain I have mentioned, if
possible, for the sake of the animals, and pushed on rapidly for it.
About 4 p.m. we had reached our sleeping place of the previous evening,
and being overpowered by thirst, we stopped in hopes that by making our
tea strong we might destroy, in some measure, the nauseous taste of the
water. The horses were spancelled and a fire lit. Whilst we were
sitting patiently for the boiling of the tins, Mr. Hume observed at a
considerable distance above us, a large body of natives under some gum
trees. They were not near enough for us to observe them distinctly, but
it was evident that they were watching our motions. We did not take any
notice of them for some time, but at last I thought it better to call
out to them, and accordingly requested Mr. Hume to do so. In a moment
the whole of them ran forward and dashed into the river, having been on
the opposite side, with an uproar I had never witnessed on any former
occasion.

INTERCOURSE WITH NATIVES.

Mr. Hume thought they intended an attack, and the horses had taken
fright and galloped away. I determined, therefore, to fire at once upon
them if they pressed up the bank on which we were posted. Mr. Hume went
with me to the crest of it, and we rather angrily beckoned to the
foremost of the natives to stop. They mistook our meaning, but laid all
their spears in a heap as they came up. We then sat down on the bank
and they immediately did the same; nor did they stir until we beckoned
to them after the horses had been secured.

As they conducted themselves so inoffensively, we gave them everything
we had to spare. My gun seemed to excite their curiosity, as they had
seen Mr. Hume shoot a cockatoo with it; they must consequently have
been close to us for the greater part of the day, as the bird was
killed in the morning. It was of a species new to me, being smaller
than the common white cockatoo, and having a large scarlet-and-yellow
instead of a pine-yellow top-knot.

Having stayed about half an hour with them, we remounted our horses,
and struck away from